The United States on Thursday accused Syria of deliberately delaying the surrender of its chemical weapons stockpiles and jeopardizing a tightly timed and costly international removal and destruction operation that narrowly averted U.S. airstrikes last year. It was the first formal accusation that Syria was not cooperating with the terms of its disarmament after months in which international diplomats and chemical weapons experts marveled at the speed the process was being carried out.

Kiev, Ukraine

Leader's sick leave stirs uncertainty

President Viktor Yanukovych's announcement Thursday that he was taking indefinite sick leave prompted a guessing game among Ukrainians about what was happening to their country. Debate raged on whether he was sick or leaving the limelight in preparation for possibly either cracking down or stepping down. Yanukovych has faced two months of major protests over corruption, heavy-handed police and dubious courts that sometimes paralyze central Kiev and have spread to other cities.

GREENVILLE, Ky.

House fire kills mom, 8 kids

The bodies of eight children and their mother were found huddled together in or near a master bedroom, victims of an early-morning fire Thursday from which only the father and an 11-year-old daughter escaped after it ripped through a modest home in western Kentucky. The fire started accidentally with combustible material against an electric heater in a bedroom, said Kentucky State Police Trooper Stu Recke.

Washington

FCC wants more 911 text capability

Federal regulators moved Thursday to expand the ability of people to send texts to 911 in emergencies, and are working on rules that would require wireless carriers to enable such messages by the end of the year. The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously that texting to 911 should be widespread, and to begin soliciting comments from the public and industry about whether a Dec. 31 deadline for establishing the capability would be feasible.

New York

Stop-and-frisk reforms coming

New Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday delivered on his promise to reform stop-and-frisk police tactics, agreeing to the appointment of a monitor to oversee reforms and seeking to end a 14-year court fight that culminated in a judge's ruling that New York City discriminated in carrying out the crime-reduction program.

Washington

Strollers recalled for amputation risk

Britax is recalling about 216,000 strollers because of a risk to partly amputate fingertips, break fingers or cause severe lacerations, among other injuries, when pressing the release button while pulling on the release strap. The B-Agile, B-Agile Double and BOB Motion single and double strollers were sold in various colors from May 2011 to June 2013 for $250 to $450. Consumers should stop using the strollers immediately and contact Britax Child Safety of Fort Mill, S.C., for a free repair kit at toll-free 1-866-204-1665, or visit britaxusa.com or bobgear.com.